The cabinet of curiosities by Anastasie Jeanne ECL2403E

Artists :  Anastasie Jeanne, harpsichord, Emilie Clément-Planche, violin, Julianna David, cello

Program :

Programme : works by Jean-Jacques Beauvarlet – Charpentier (1734 – 1794) : La Pitras, La Pestalozi, La Cécile, La Susanne, La Bressol et de Simon Simon (1734 – 1811) : La Saint Saire, La la Corée, La L’arrard, La le Daulceur, La La Font

Accès to the digital booklet

Jean-Jacques Beauvarlet-Charpentier La Pitras
Simon Simon La Lafont - Vif

The fact is that I stumbled across Simon Simon and Jean-Jacques Beauvarlet-Charpentier quite by chance; it was a happy accident that might never have occurred were it not for my vocation as a performing harpsichordist. Setting up my own laboratory gave me the opportunity to explore hitherto unknown areas, as I ventured towards the outer limits of what might be considered the “Baroque” repertoire.

 

This is how I came across the work of Simon Simon and Jean-Jacques Beauvarlet-Charpentier, through my own expe-riences. As I was decoding their collections of harpsichord pieces, it felt as though I was opening up a true cabinet of curiosities; in which I would come across the bizarre, the frivolous, the incongruous, the terrifying and the strangely beautiful. All of these things felt quite familiar to me, and yet at the same time they were so strange and innovative.

 

I feel sure that we do not have the key which would allow us to open this secret cabinet containing a part of the history of music. […] It is no coincidence that we still use the phrase “the poetry of the harpsichord” when talking about the palette of effects and expressive resources which are at the poet’s disposal. I hope that this recording will afford an opportunity to share a little of my own collection of fine eighteenth century pieces and this “lovely sound” that so delighted the élite members of a bygone society.

 

Anastasie Jeanne